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Application of polarization-entangled photon pairs for studying the density of microorganisms

Vira R. Besaga, Fabian Ott, Tobias Meyer‐Zedler, Frank Setzpfandt

Published Jun 10, 2024• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We study the feasibility of polarization-entangled photon pairs to be applied for probing the density of living microorganisms in a microfluidic chamber. We investigate the polarization response of scattering samples via quantum state change and relate this to different density levels of microorganisms on example of yeast cells in water solution.

DOI
10.1117/12.3017264

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We study the feasibility of polarization-entangled photon pairs to be applied for probing the density of living microorganisms in a microfluidic chamber. We investigate the polarization response of scattering samples via quantum state change and relate this to different density levels of microorganisms on example of yeast cells in water solution.
Probing the polarization response of an object with the well-acknowledged technique of optical polarimetry enables determination of the specimen's inner properties. Prominent examples include the measurement of the chirality of proteins and molecules [1] or the induced anisotropy of disease-affected cells and tissues [2]. Aiming for better signal-to-noise ratio, lower photon flux of the probing beam and non-local diagnostics, polarimetric approaches employing the quantum nature of light and entanglement are currently rapidly developing [3]–[6]. In the present work we study the experimental feasibility of the non-local identification of different polarizing samples by performing only few coincidence measurements [6] without necessity for full density matrix reconstruction of the quantum state.
This study addresses the critical need for high signal-to-noise ratio in optical detection methods for biological sample discrimination under low-photon-flux conditions to ensure accuracy without compromising sample integrity. We explore polarization-based probing, which often excels over intensity modulation when assessing a specimen's morphology. Leveraging non-classical light sources, our approach capitalizes on sub-Poissonian photon statistics and quantum correlation-based measurements. We present a novel, highly sensitive method for probing single-layer cell cultures using entangled photon pairs. Our approach demonstrates potential for monolayer cell analysis, distinguishing between two types of monolayer cells and their host medium. The experimental results highlight our method's sensitivity, showcasing its potential for biological sample detection using quantum techniques, and paving the way for advanced diagnostic methodologies.
Conventional polarimetry, including schemes leveraging entangled light, characterizes optical samples through linear transformations of polarization states. We introduce a two-photon probing approach in which both photons of an entangled pair interact with the same depolarizing medium simultaneously. In this regime, the transformation of the two-photon polarization correlations becomes quadratic in the Mueller matrix, enabling access to second-order polarization information beyond conventional polarimetry. We develop a theoretical framework linking the Mueller matrix to the evolution of the two-photon polarization correlation tensor and show that depolarization induces quadratic degradation of entanglement and state purity. Experiments using polarization-entangled photon pairs transmitted through controlled scattering media confirm the predicted response and reveal enhanced sensitivity to polarization scrambling compared with single-photon probing. These results establish two-photon probing as a higher-order quantum polarimetric modality for characterizing polarization channels.
Polarization-based sensing proved highly effective for studying complex samples that exhibit strong scattering. This elevated the classical polarimetry as a well-acknowledged technique, especially for biomedical diagnostics [1]. Revisiting polarization-based sensing with non-classical states of light reveals the potential of the improved sensitivity [2] and enhanced accuracy [3] of the measurement compared to the classical sensing scenario. Our recent proof-of-concept experiments with photons entangled in polarization unveiled the potential of such states for quantitative characterization of scattering in tissue-mimicking phantoms [4]. In this study, we further explore the evolution of the polarization-entangled states in a turbid environment. In particular, we explore which properties of such states could be used for sensing purposes as monitoring parameters.